Which certification gets you hired first?

Price, study hours and real difficulty of the best-known cybersecurity certifications, together with how many job ads ask for them and what they pay. Tick a few to compare them.

17 certifications

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Compare Certification Level Price Hours Difficulty Exam Job ads Avg. salary Index
CC ISC2 Fundamentals Beginner $199 20–40 h ●○○○○ Multiple choice – – –
Google Cyber Google (Coursera) Fundamentals Beginner $294 150–180 h ●○○○○ Multiple choice – – –
eJPT INE Offensive Beginner $249 40–80 h ●●○○○ Hands-on – – –
Security+ CompTIA Fundamentals Beginner $425 60–120 h ●●○○○ Multiple choice – – –
BTL1 Security Blue Team Defensive Beginner $499 60–100 h ●●○○○ Hands-on – – –
PenTest+ CompTIA Offensive Intermediate $425 80–150 h ●●○○○ Multiple choice – – –
CEH EC-Council Offensive Intermediate $1,199 80–150 h ●●○○○ Multiple choice – – –
CRTP Altered Security Offensive Intermediate $249 40–80 h ●●●○○ Hands-on – – –
CySA+ CompTIA Defensive Intermediate $425 100–150 h ●●●○○ Multiple choice – – –
CRTO Zero-Point Security Offensive Intermediate $480 100–150 h ●●●○○ Hands-on – – –
PNPT TCM Security Offensive Intermediate $499 150–250 h ●●●○○ Hands-on – – –
GPEN GIAC (SANS) Offensive Intermediate $979 80–120 h ●●●○○ Multiple choice – – –
CPTS Hack The Box Offensive Intermediate $210 250–450 h ●●●●○ Hands-on – – –
OSCP OffSec Offensive Intermediate $1,749 300–600 h ●●●●○ Hands-on – – –
CISM ISACA Management Advanced $760 120–200 h ●●●○○ Multiple choice – – –
CISSP ISC2 Management Advanced $749 150–250 h ●●●●○ Multiple choice – – –
OSWE OffSec Offensive Advanced $1,749 300–500 h ●●●●● Hands-on – – –
Tick 2 to 4 to see them side by side.